Corn board, company assess herbicide damage

Published: Thursday, June 03, 1999

The Texas Corn Producers Board in Dimmitt is working with officials from Rhone-Poulenc to assess alleged damage on the High Plains relating to corn where Balance, a new herbicide, was applied this season.

''We are working with Rhone-Poulenc to identify any problems with the product and to mitigate any losses to corn farmers,'' said Jerry Don Glover, TCPB executive director. ''It is our hope that the losses are minimal.''

He estimates that some 30,000 acres in an area from Clovis, N.M., to Plainview and a similar amount of acreage from Dalhart to Dumas on the North Plains was apparently adversely affected this year by the herbicide.

Although Rhone-Poulenc helped some growers replant their crop earlier in the season, it's now too late to come back with corn, said Glover.

Some of the damaged crop is recovering, Glover said, although stands have been thinned.

Growers who feel they've been adversely affected by the use of the herbicide should contact the TCPB at (800) 647-CORN.

A centralized database is being established by the TCPB to assist in identifying any problems associated with the use of Balance, Glover said.

When contacting the TCPB, farmers are being asked to note the type of damage to their crop and the number of acres affected.